Oatmeal is a champion among food, earning respect for its role in reducing heart disease. The FDA issued its first health claim specific to food in 1997 when it allowed Quaker Oats to claim that the fiber from oatmeal, when part of a heart healthy diet, may reduce the risk of heart disease, according to Quaker Oats' website. Today, you can get all the nutrition oatmeal has to offer in a convenient, instant form.
Comparison
Instant oatmeal is slightly less nutritious than regular oatmeal. Instant oatmeal is regular oatmeal that has been cooked and dehydrated. This process decreases fiber content slightly, making it easier for the body to digest quickly. Fast digestion means a small spike in blood sugar. There is a minor nutritional difference between Old Fashioned Quaker Oats and Quaker Instant Oatmeal, when comparing the slow cooked variety to the brand's Apples and Cinnamon flavor, according to Quaker Oat's nutritional comparison page. Instant oatmeal may contain more sodium, or salt, than regular oatmeal, but is still a low-sodium food.
Calories and Fat
Oatmeal is low in fat and calories. Manufacturers may flavor instant oatmeal, adding sugar and calories. Great Value brand instant oatmeal provides 100 calories per packet, with only 20 of those calories from fat, according to Walmart.com. A heart-healthy diet aims at getting 25 to 35 percent of calories from fat. There are no unhealthy saturated fat or trans fats associated with instant oatmeal. Avoid adding extra calories or fat by using cinnamon instead of sugar or low fat milk instead of whole milk.
Soluble Fiber
A diet including instant oatmeal is healthy for your heart. Oatmeal contains soluble fiber, known to lower blood cholesterol levels and your risk for heart disease. Additionally, fiber adds volume to food, leaving you feeling more satisfied between breakfast and lunch. A serving of oatmeal counts towards the recommended servings of whole grain oats each day.
Vitamins and Minerals
Instant oatmeal packs a lot of vitamins and minerals in each single serving packet. A package of oatmeal provides 20 percent of your daily value of vitamin A, iron, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6 and folic acid. Vitamin A plays a role in vision, bone growth, reproduction and cell development. Iron is an important part in many proteins and enzymes necessary for human life, and iron plays a crucial part in respiration. Instant oatmeal is also a good source of other minerals, such as phosphorus and calcium. Oatmeal does not contain vitamin C.
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